The Short ScreeningsThis evening, watch three indie short films at a café in Versova. First up is Gul, directed by Saurabh Sachdeva. The story revolves around a brother-sister duo — garland maker Ajay and mehendi artist Mamta — and their struggle to make ends meet. Rohit Gupta’s film Mom tackles the subject of bullying. As a child, Ved’s mother used to be his strength to fight bullies. However, he doesn’t know how to deal with them after her death. Old Wine, by Jasmeet Singh, is about a retired hitman and the incidents that take place after he leaves his gang.
WHERE: Cat Café Studio, Andheri WHEN: 6.30 pm ENTRY: Rs 200 LOG: www.insider.in

Nostalgia for the Future + Lovely Villa

Catch two documentaries centering around architecture this evening. Nostalgia for the Future, directed by Avijit Mukul Kishore and Rohan Shivkumar, is a film on modernity and the architecture of homes. The film examines the architecture of four buildings — Lukhshmi Vilas Palace in Baroda, built in the late 19th century; Villa Shodhan in Ahmedabad, a private residence designed by Le Corbusier; Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and public housing in Delhi post-independence, designed by the government of India. The second documentary, Lovely Villa is named after the apartment building where Shivkumar grew up to become an architect. It was designed by Charles Correa and it represents the idea of an ideal community in modern India. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.
WHERE: School of Environment and Architecture, Borivali WHEN: 6.30 pm ENTRY: Call venue for details CALL: 8655002156

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Witness hilarity on stageYatri group’s production Raavanleela is set against the backdrop of rural India. Here, a group of untrained actors tries to stage a Ramleela. However, things take a hilarious turn when Kartar Singh, an actor who plays the role of Ravan, refuses to stick to his character’s original fate of dying in the end. He wants to turn it into a ‘Ravanleela’ because his demand for hike in his salary has not been met. The play is directed by Om Katare.
WHERE: Prithvi Theatre, Juhu WHEN: 9 pm ENTRY: Rs 500 LOG: www.bookmyshow.com

Create mixed media artArt should not be restrictive — one has to play around with ideas and experiment to create something new. At this workshop, organised by Piramal Museum of Art, get introduced to the concept of mixed media art. For this, artworks are created by the employment of more than one medium. At this class, participants will create their own masterpieces by combining design, texture and a host of different materials. Conducted by artist Aarti Bahl.
WHERE: Piramal Museum of Art, Mulund WHEN: 3 pm ENTRY: Rs 499 LOG: www.insider.in

Watch Sorabh Pant liveThe funnyman started out as a television writer and worked with fellow comedian Vir Das for the show News on The Loose. After becoming a full-time comic, Pant opened for comic giants Wayne Brady and Rob Schneider during their India tours. He also wrote the book The Wednesday Soul, a comical take on life after death. Catch him live, as he delivers a set laced with his signature sarcasm, at a culture hub in Khar tonight.
WHERE: The Habitat, Khar WHEN: 7 pm and 9 pm ENTRY: Rs 499 LOG: www.boomyshow.com

Trace the Mughal legacy, decode mob violence and break down modern architecture at these talks this weekend.

Mughal LegaciesBetween 1526, when Babur won the First Battle of Panipat, to 1857, when it was formally dissolved by the British Raj — the Mughal rule in India spanned over 300 years. During this period, it tremendously influenced the art and culture in the sub-continent, which is the subject of this discussion by Sarmaya, a non-profit art organisation. At this talk, founder of Sarmaya, Paul Abraham will trace the legacy of the empire by analysing the coins minted during that era. While head designer of Good Earth, Pavitra Rajaram, will delve into the art and design of the period.
WHERE: Pundole’s, Ballard Estate WHEN: Jul 13, 6 pm ENTRY: Free LOG: www.facebook.com/SarmayaIndia

Contemporary NostalgiaHow to incorporate nostalgia in contemporary design and what is the importance of photography in conservation, restoration and documentation of architecture? These are the questions that will be discussed at this talk, which is a must attend for design and architecture aficionados. The panel discussion features Sarah Sham of Essajees Atelier, Abedin Sham of Abode Boutique Hotels, Firdaus Variava of Bharat Floorings & Tiles and Kuber Shah of Doors of Mumbai.
WHERE: Abode Bombay, Colaba WHEN: Jul 13, 4 pm ENTRY: Free CALL: 8080234066

Understanding HateMumbai Local — a series of talks conducted by experts in various fields — returns with another edition this Sunday. It will be led by journalist and filmmaker Revati Laul, who released The Anatomy of Hate, last year. Her talk will delve into the topics of mass violence and mob mentality in India. She will also break down how individuals end up transforming into a faceless mob and carry out atrocious acts of ethnic cleansing and lynching, and how we can overcome such herd mentality.
WHERE: Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Byculla WHEN: Jun 14, 11.30 am ENTRY: Free, registration required RSVP: www.bookmyshow.com

MUST ATTEND:
A fistful of rupeesWritten and directed by Shiv Tandan, this absurdist comedy/satire came in second at the International Sultan Padamsee Playwriting Awards in 2018 and was even featured at the Tata LitLive! Mumbai Literature Festival, 2018. It follows the life of Raghav, who after living a quiet life in Singapore for many years, moves to the maximum city, without much of a plan. The play highlights the chaos of Mumbai, and how difficult and lonely it can be living in a metropolis like this. Starring: Anuj Rampal, Lauren Robinson, Vaibhav Kapatia and Zinnia Ranji.
WHERE: The Castiko Space, Versova WHEN: Jul 13, 8.30 pm ENTRY: Rs 300 LOG: www.insider.in

PLAN AHEAD:
Plant rice with local farmersWith the advent of monsoon, lush green rice fields come to life. At this day-long trip at a farm — just a few hours’ drive from the city — you will get to wade into a paddy field and plant rice alongside farmers. The day begins with a hearty breakfast at the farm, followed by an orientation where you will learn about how rice is grown — from making saplings to harvesting to polishing it. Then, head to the fields and plant some rice, followed by a fun tractor ride.
WHERE: Aditya Agro Farm, near Shahapur WHEN: Jul 13 or Jul 14, ENTRY: Rs 1,800 CALL: 9223164512

BOOK NOW:
A flexibility classFlex your flexibility skills at this workshop, conducted by yoga instructor Joanna Michelle. Stretching keeps the muscles strong, helps prevent injuries and relaxes the body. This session will focus on a new flow format, which will incorporate elements of mobility and strength — much needed, whether you are running, weight-lifting or taking part in any other kind of fitness activities.
WHERE: Beyond Studio, Bandra WHEN: Jul 13 and Jul 20, 11.30 am ENTRY: Rs 750 LOG: www.facebook.com/beyondstudiomumbai